A most Excellent road trip

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bertvorgon
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A most Excellent road trip

Post by bertvorgon »

Knox Mountain Road Trip 2015

As we finished an epic day of circumventing the Hana highway, and doing the backside of the island of Maui, my thoughts turned to the next road trip, Knox Mountain weekend.

I decided to take the G35, figuring why burn up good fuel in the 510 on just a straight highway cruise, might as well go in comfort. Plus, as the speed limit was raised to 120 KMH, which if you add the normal 10+, plus the usual fudge factor after that, 140 was not out of line. I wanted to be there when the gate opened, which turned out later than the Web site said.

I was up at 3:00, leaving at 3:50, after a couple of coffee's to wake up. That was not really that early for me, as I'm usually awake at 4 anyhow. Heading out 16Th avenue, had ZERO traffic, and when I hit #1, it was virtually the same thing, letting me get to Hope in an hour, 30 minutes faster than normal...what does that tell you about regular traffic. I had decided to resurrect my old Escort radar detector too. I figured that while it would not pick up laser, most of the RCMP still use moving radar. I would just be careful as I got towards the usual spots that they set up the big laser traps. The Escort just fit under the passenger head rest, so it was kinda stealthy at the position, and you could not see it from behind.

Leaving Hope had the speed limit up to 120 so I wicked it up to 130, heading into the early morning light, expecting the sun rise in the mountains at about the summit. The ole' Infinity just purrs along at that speed, very hard to keep it at that, finding myself at 140 a few times. The climb to the top of the Coquihalla seemed like it was not there, only passing a couple of wide load trucks, hauling massive D10 caterpillar High drive bulldozers. Once on top, that level cruise section went by like nothing as I headed to Merritt. I have to commend the Government for one time as to listening to the people, and raising that speed limit. I left the clouds at Coquihalla lakes, where the fog actually had me slow down, visibility was really poor, and I did not want to go into the back of somebody doing stupidly slow speeds. Sure enough, the sun popped up, brilliant with blue, blue sky.

After I left Merritt, and the speed limit went back up to 120, I let the speed creep up. The lines of sight are very good on some of those sections, and, at that time of day, the Boys are only just heading to the donut shop. I saw NO police on the way there, and only outside Hope on the way back, where they had their usual laser trap set up. I wonder how many cars got towed away on this long weekend?
The old Escort only beeped a couple of times, likely from other cars radar detectors. Before I knew it, I was heading down into Westbank, off the throttle for miles, and still doing 130. The sun was bright now, and I knew it was going to be a hot day on the mountain. I arrived at Knox, 3 hours and 30 minutes after I left home, which included one rest stop, at the spot we had our fire a few years ago, when the highway was closed.

The gate was closed, actually opening at 9:00 am.. I spent the next hour chatting with a bunch of other motorheads, which was not a bad way to pass the time. One fellow had brought his mint MGB, another his Porsche. As the gate opened, I could see all the drivers in the meeting at the start line, so, after taking a picture of Cam's 510 and Campbell's Fire Bird in pre-grid. The Knox committee this year cut the entry fee in half for new people, so they got the entry up to 53 cars from last years 35. Again I was amazed at the lack of spectators, at least on Saturday. Sunday morning had heavy rain till about 1:00, so who knows how it went today. I made the weather call and got it right this time.

I started my hike to the top of the mountain. I had loaded my day pack with water and food, so I was totally self sufficient for the day. The City of Kelowna had closed off a lot of the original trails that followed the road, so I ended up on a very steep trail that headed to the top. I finally got to a trail junction and decided to go cross country, as I wanted to go to Turn 7 at the end of the straight first. This to me was the most fearsome turn, which took me years to finally carry some speed through. It is a small sweeper at the end of the straight, where, in my last year at Knox, I was hitting 117 MPH. It is visually, from a drivers standpoint, almost blind, and has a camber change, which makes the car get light in not the direction you want it to. It is here that time is made, or, in most cases, lost, as most lift way too early. It is here you need BIG balls and huge STICK, coupled with a knowledge of you cars capability.

After watching for about 20 minutes, I heard a familiar voice behind me, Richard Boyk and Don West had made it up to watch also. We got to be the "Race commentators and critics", easy to do from the comfort of the side bank! Campbell is FAST up through here, having a new 600 Hp motor in the car. Cam was fast also, having now quite a few years under his belt. His engine sounded clean and strong. I'm always amazed at how many show up with crap running cars, farting and spitting as they try to leave a corner. As Knox is steep, you cannot waste ANY forward momentum, so getting out of a corner clean is paramount. Wouter had his crazy fast 3 rotor Rx7 there too, just a ballistic missile coming up the straight. The sub two minute mark still is the Holy Grail for time. Glad I made that club.
We then headed up to watch in Turn 9, the last corner before the finish. It's a good place to watch as it is comprised of two short chutes and really tests the handling of the car, all the while trying to maintain as much speed as possible. A couple of cars kissed the tire wall, but no major drama. I then finished my hike by going to the finish line, to talk to all the old gang. That was the highlight of my day, as even the woman who has worked the finish line greeted me with a big hug. I spent 14 years kidding with her as we waited for our run group to finish. I ripped of a few pictures and as the last car came through of the group, decided to book it back down the mountain.

It was really hot by then and was the air ever dry, my lips getting chapped in the 6 hours I was on the hill. And, wow is the bush ever dry, I can see why Kelowna is concerned about fire hazard. The fine fuel content in the bush is huge, and with a major fire burning all ready in Northern B.C., I predict an early campfire ban. Must go camping, must go camping.....so I can still burn some steaks over a campfire. I had to go uphill, before I could head down and I sure felt the dryness, using up the last of my water just before I got back to the pits. At Turn 3 someone in a Mustang had either blown their motor or transmission, oiling the braking zone big time. The clean-up crew earned their pay then. Larry Sandham in his Mini was pulled off there, so I said hi to him and snapped a picture.

Arriving at the pits, I had Jamie Mitchell sneak up behind me, to say hi. He was another very competitive 510 guy back in the Club days. He and I wandered around the pits, finally stopping to have a nice chat with Cam and Brent Thorkelson. I must mention that Cam did a wonderful thing for a family who's child has terminal cancer, getting them a ride in Brent's Porsche. I tip my hat to you Cam!

Time to head back to White Rock, fueling up at the Chevron, I was kinda amazed that I actually got very good mileage, considering my cruising speed. Traffic was light leaving Kelowna, and once I was on the connector, wicked it up to 120+ again, with zip for cars on the road. What a nice drive back, good tunes playing, sun starting to get low, colours just fantastic in the mountains, even went through a small rain squall at the top of the Penaske summit. At one point, 2 other travelers and I cruised at 140 till we got to Merritt. I had taken my GPS this trip, to get some data. Compared to our 510 drives, where we go ballistically fast at times, but, stop for photo ops, plus we are on secondary highways, single lane, my AVERAGE speed for 226 Km was 106 KMH. Our 510 drives are lucky to tag 50 KMH. My time in motion was 6 hours and 58 minutes for the day and I hiked 4.5 miles for the day.

I was home by 9:30, a wonderful road trip gone by, lots of good people met again, and some good racing to watch. The old Infiniti smoked off 28 miles per gallon going up and 28.8 MPG coming back, which just amazed me considering the actual time at speed. That 3.5 liter motor is very good, where in 6th gear it is ready to go at any time. At 130 - 140 it's at 3,000 RPM, so right into the power band.

Sorry for the quality of the action photos, my little point and shoot camera has its limitations..

Keith Law, May 17, 2015
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"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
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bertvorgon
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Re: A most Excellent road trip

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"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
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bertvorgon
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Re: A most Excellent road trip

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CITY OF KELOWNA AND LAKE OKANAGAN, FROM 1/4 WAY UP KNOX
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"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
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bertvorgon
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Re: A most Excellent road trip

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CAMPBELL ENTERING TURN 7
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"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
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bertvorgon
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Re: A most Excellent road trip

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WOUTERS 600+ HP 3 ROTOR RX7
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LARRY SANDHAM 200HP MINI COOPER
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"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
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"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
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bertvorgon
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"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
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bertvorgon
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Re: A most Excellent road trip

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"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
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bertvorgon
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Re: A most Excellent road trip

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ELECTRIC FORMULA CAR BUILT BY UBC ENGINEERING...QUIET!!!!!
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"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
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bertvorgon
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Re: A most Excellent road trip

Post by bertvorgon »

Hope you enjoyed!

Now it's time for a 510 day drive, get out on the Great Rolling Dyno, see some scenery, great friends together, enjoying our passion for driving.

one last picture of my Escort.
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"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
510rob
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Re: A most Excellent road trip

Post by 510rob »

Did you see Mark Finniss?
2DoorJim
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Re: A most Excellent road trip

Post by 2DoorJim »

Thanks for posting this Keith, been years since I've been out to spectate and I always look forward to seeing picture and coverage.

I vacationed in Kelowna late last summer and walked the hill. I concluded two things, the hill is way steeper than I recall, and, I'm really out of shape!

Waiting for results to get posted... looks like the Knox site is a couple years behind.

Jim
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bertvorgon
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Re: A most Excellent road trip

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Afternoon World,

I did not see Mark. It rained like hell Sunday morning, Campbell decided wisely to only run when it dried. Apparently a fellow in a GTS Corolla from Alberta, rolled the thing, exiting Turn 2.

That hill is steep, no doubt about. I was amazed at how steep the trail is up to the top, I can feel my calves a bit today, and I thought I was in shape! The fast cars have very good power to weight ratio, that is the defining factor to be below 2 minutes ( given that tire stick has come a long way also )
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"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
Ash510
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Re: A most Excellent road trip

Post by Ash510 »

Thanks Keith, I wish I could have made it out, Its been 3 years the last time I was there.

and I think even I could do it in 22 min. :D

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bertvorgon
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Re: A most Excellent road trip

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Thanks..I wrote that half asleep.

Ok, so where do we want to go for our first drive?
"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
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